IBDFSML 46

chapter 46

The old woman was the village chief of Litten.

We followed Chief Paula to her home and were able to hear in detail about what the village had been going through over the past few months.

“It all started around the outskirts of the village. One day, animal carcasses began appearing one by one in areas where hunters and gatherers usually went. At first, we didn’t think much of it.”

Chief Paula lowered her head with a devastated expression.

“But then even the livestock the villagers raised began disappearing overnight without a trace. And around that time, the occasional visitors from outside suddenly stopped coming as well.”

“What kind of livestock disappeared?”

Sion, who had been listening carefully, asked.

“From chickens and pigs to horses and cows. All kinds.”

“…!”

I was startled by her answer.

Horses and cows? For animals that large to vanish without a trace… this feels ominous.

“Realizing something was wrong, a few of the young men from the village set out several weeks ago to seek help. But none of them returned. Since then, our village has been completely cut off from the outside world.”

As the chief finished speaking, the sound of someone sobbing came from inside.

Her eyes welled up with tears.

“That’s my daughter-in-law, Anna… My son was among those who left the village. It’s already been half a month with no word…”

She trailed off, her shoulders trembling as she cried.

Among us, Genevia—who was the most compassionate—approached her gently.

“…Chief, we don’t know yet. Your son might still be safe.”

At that moment, Anna, who had been sobbing inside, appeared. She was a young woman with swollen eyes and a haggard appearance.

“Everyone in the village says Hans is dead. That he was eaten by a terrifying magical beast. But I don’t believe it! We haven’t even found his body!”

Anna collapsed to the floor, wailing.

As the atmosphere grew heavier, Chief Paula approached Sion.

Then, with her hunched body, she knelt and carefully clasped his hands.

“You are the only ones we can ask for help now. Please… don’t turn away from us. Please help us.”

“……”

Sion watched her for a moment.

Then he spoke calmly.

“Chief Paula of Litten. I understand your situation.”

He helped her to her feet.

“I promise. Until this village’s problem is resolved, we will not leave.”

“…!”

At his words, both Paula and Anna looked up at him.

Their eyes filled with relief and hope.

Ah… as expected of my favorite. So cool…!

I watched from inside Sion’s robe, my eyes sparkling.

Soon after, we were guided to an empty house in the village to stay the night.

After politely declining the villagers’ attempts to host us, we ate the food we had brought and discussed the situation.

“There’s no way something behaving like this is an ordinary wild animal. It must be the work of a magical beast.”

Diene, the most knowledgeable among us about magical beasts, said while eating.

“But there’s one strange thing. Even though this is the Alpheon Mountains, which aren’t far from the border region, a creature capable of taking down horses, cattle, and even people wouldn’t be a low-level beast…”

Garen asked,

“Have there been cases where a mid-level magical beast left the border region and appeared near civilian settlements like this?”

“No, not that I know of. Creatures of that level wouldn’t leave the Alketa Ice Plains and cross the border region in the first place.”

“Huh, are the knights guarding the border really that strong? Strong enough that mid-level beasts can’t get through at all?”

I asked, curious.

I knew some things from the original story, but not as much as someone like Diene.

“There’s a reason the Alketa Ice Plains are called the ‘cradle of magical beasts.’ According to ancient scholars, there’s some unknown source at its center—something that creates the ideal environment for magical beasts.”

Sion spoke thoughtfully.

“Then stronger beasts would have a tendency to remain in the center rather than leave the plains.”

“Exactly.”

Diene stretched.

“Depending on what we’re dealing with, this might be a bit troublesome. Our journey will likely be delayed.”

Sion nodded indifferently.

“We’ll find out what it is when we face it.”

The next morning,

we left the village to track the magical beast.

“Please… be careful.”

Chief Paula and several villagers saw us off.

Their expressions looked as though they were watching people walk to their deaths.

“……”

Once we were far from the village, I climbed onto Sion’s shoulder and tapped his cheek.

“Hey, Sion.”

“…?”

“This… isn’t something super dangerous, right?”

“Are you scared?”

he asked casually.

His face was expressionless, but his tone carried a faint teasing edge.

“…Me? Not at all.”

I blinked exaggeratedly.

I had to maintain my dignity as a fangirl fairy protecting my favorite.

But honestly, I wasn’t thrilled about hunting an unknown magical beast hiding somewhere.

…We have Sion and Genevia, and Diene and Garen seem capable too, so nothing major should happen…

I swallowed dryly.

…Still, it’s my first time seeing a magical beast in real life.

Fighting something I’d only read about in a book was nerve-wracking.

Then Garen, examining the snow, said,

“The tracks are becoming clearer in this direction. Judging by the depth, it’s something large and heavy.”

Sion and Diene surveyed the surroundings.

“There are quite a few broken trees. Could it be something that climbs?”

Sion knelt and brushed the snow with his hand.

As the snow crumbled away, something thin and white remained.

“…This is.”

I flew over and poked it.

“…Isn’t this a spider web?”

At that moment—

“Oh my god—!”

Genevia suddenly screamed.

Startled, I dove straight into Sion’s clothes.

“Wh-what?! What is it?!”

Looking back, Genevia had collapsed, staring at something.

“What is it, Lady Genevia?”

Garen rushed to stand in front of her.

She pointed with a trembling hand.

“T-there! Something moved!”

“…!”

“…!!”

Garen and Diene drew their swords and approached cautiously.

Then—

Something burst out of the snow.

“Ahh!”

“Ahh!”

Genevia and I screamed together.

I smacked Sion frantically.

“Isn’t that a hand?!”

“…It does appear to be a human hand.”

A hand rose from the snow like a zombie.

Soon, Garen and Diene dug through the snow and revealed a man buried halfway.

“…He looks dead.”

Diene tilted her head.

“But his arm moved earlier. He might still be alive.”

Genevia approached cautiously and used her divine power.

After a moment—

“…Ugh.”

The man opened his eyes.

“Are you conscious?”

“……”

He slowly sat up and looked around.

His face was obscured by messy hair and a thick beard, his clothes torn and filthy.

His eyes darted wildly.

Finally, he spoke.

“…Where am I?”

“You’re in the Alpheon Mountains. We rescued you.”

“…Who am I?”

“…You are—”

Genevia stopped mid-sentence.

The man looked at all of us, confused.

Silence fell.

“…It seems…”

Genevia said gently,

“He’s suffering from memory and cognitive impairment due to physical or psychological shock. It happens sometimes.”

“That’s unfortunate. He might have been our only survivor, but it looks like we won’t get any clues about the beast.”

Diene shrugged.

The man stood with Genevia’s help—tall and imposing.

…But.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

…What is this strange feeling?